Waitsfield, VT - The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Compliance and Enforcement Division today announced that it has formally settled environmental violations involving Raymond O. Tarbell and Sarah J. Stark. Mr. Tarbell and Ms. Stark are landowners in Ferdinand, Vermont. The settlement includes a $23,397.51 penalty.

Through the Agency’s investigation, it was discovered that 59 acres of the parcel of land owned by Mr. Tarbell and Ms. Stark had been heavy cut contrary to their forest management plan.

The matter came to light as a result of Agency inspection through the Use Value Appraisal Program, which allows for landowners to have their property appraised based on its value for forestry. After the investigation was completed, Raymond O. Tarbell and Sarah J. Stark were notified of the violations and agreed to settle the matter.

The settlement was reduced to an Assurance of Discontinuance and was so ordered by the Environmental Court on May 15, 2012. In it, Raymond O. Tarbell and Sarah J. Stark agreed to pay a $23,397.51 penalty to the State of Vermont for the violations. The Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation also recommended that the parcel be removed from the Use Value Appraisal Program, as required by statute. Mr. Tarbell and Ms. Stark have now sold the property. At the time of closing, Mr. Tarbell and Ms. Stark also paid a Land Use Change Tax in the amount of $2,472.27 due to the removal of the parcel from the Use Value Appraisal Program.